Hillsboro recorder., 1887-10-06
sUpERsTITIONs or ENGINEERS.
Railroad Men wha obey 0mens Waite
Rabblt.--A a Pilots story.

Railroad engineers, as rule, are
superstitious class of persons said an
old railroad man. "They have foolish
fancies and attach importance to signs
and warnings; but know OF instances
where hundreds Of lives have been saved
by engineers fancies and superstitions.
For over thirty years have been rail-
road conductor, and during that time /
have seen and heard many things that
under ordinary circumstances would
have discredited. One Of the best en-
gineers that ever ran on the West Shore
Railroad was man named Bronson.
One morning, just before starting time,
while he sat chatting with the fireman,
the engine bell suddenly rang out three
times. As neither the engineer nor fire.
man had touched the bell, and as no
other person was on or around the engine,
the men felt troubled over the strange
circumstance. They regarded II us an
ill omen and both men were filled with
dread. The rain started on Its journey,
and mile after mile was quickly travelled,
the engineer meanwhile keeping an
anxious lookout for danger. When
within about an eighth OF mile Of
rocky cut, the bell again, apparently Of
its own accord, sounded three ominous
notes, clear and distinct. The engineer
beaide himself with terror, exclaimed:
NV tlod, Bill It's d warning CT some
great danger, and believe it's our duty
to stop. I'm ding TO shut her down il
| lose my place By it, The engine came
10 q sudden standstill, and within ten
feet Of the engine, lying aeross the track
was great rock several t0ls In weight,
which had become looseEed by q recent
storm, and broken away from the great
mass above. A terrible calamity was
averted and hundreds OF lives saved.
And now Ill tell yoI Of another in
stance" continued the same speaker, ''of
how an engineer lost his life by not heed
ing voice OF warning One OF the most
careful and trusted engineers ON our road
was james Welch. One morning his wife
noticed that he was not In his usual
cheerful frame Of mind, and Questioned
him about it. He told her that he was
not i'll, but he said be had a premonition
that he would be killed during the day.
His wife, being sensible woman, did
not sneer or laugh at his fears, begged
him to stay at home that day. Welch,
who was a disbelieyer in signs and
omens, laughed st his fancies and went
TO his death. Two hours later the en-
gineer was lying, c1dshed TO death, at
the bottom Of deep ravine.r
"Yes, know such things TO be true,n
said another man. "Silly as II may
seem, I wouldn't run a tram after see-
ing white rabbit eros, the track, with
out FIRST stopping % investigate, II /
were to he made president Of the road.
] remember one dark night We were
scooting across country at pretty lively
rate, whcn all Of q sudden, l saw white
rabbi. dart across the track Just In front
Of the engine. The wee thing gave me
such look in that brief second that
something compelled me to stop the
train. The conductor and train men
came rushing up 10 the engine to find
out the cause Of our sudden halt, and il
didn't take long TO find out either. Only
few feet ahead on the track were some
heavy logs. They had most likely been
placed there and tied down by tramps,
who In the confusion Of frightful ac-
cident, such as would have taken place
II ] hadn't stopped the train, would
have robbed and plunderei the dead
and dying passengers"